Even traditionally liberal media outlets can’t turn away. The New York Times was one of the first major newspapers to report the story, and a Washington Post editorial this weekend called for Mollohan to resign from the Ethics Committee until the allegations have been fully investigated.

ACU Recognizes "Best" and "Worst" Legislators

While an apparently unethical appropriator is getting raked over the coals, fifty conservative heroes in Congress have been rewarded with a 100% ACU rating this month.

Every year, the American Conservative Union rates senators and House members on key votes in three categories: economic and budget, social and cultural, and defense and foreign policy.

In 2003, no senators and only three House members received ratings of 100%. This year there are twelve senators and thirty-eight House members on the "Best of the Best" list.

On the other hand, there are 73 legislators described as the "Worst of the Worst" because they received a 0% ACU rating. 

You can find out where your legislator stands on the conservative spectrum by visiting the ACU website.

Environment Trending Upwards in the U.S.

From all the Green hype we’ve heard after recent natural disasters, you’d think the nations of the world are all about to burn up or fall into the ocean. Not so, says the just-released Index of Leading Environmental Indicators, released last week by the Pacific Research Institute. In fact, the 2006 edition of the Index demonstrates several reasons for optimism, including falling ozone levels and an increase in the grizzly bear population.

"With over a decade of compiled research in the Index, the facts speak for themselves," says Index author Steven Hayward. "[I]t’s impossible to deny the environmental improvements we’ve made and the certain progress we’ll continue to make over time."

While the Index typically focuses on environmental indicators in the U.S., this year’s edition also takes a close look at China, which has experienced numerous environmental setbacks recently. "Environmental review [in China] may not meet the standards of either the U.S. EPA or the Sierra Club, but the Chinese have moved a quantum leap forward by embracing Western reforms which recognize that economic growth and markets are the prerequisites to environmental improvement," said Dr. Hayward. "If China responds to its environmental challenges with administrative decentralization and greater use of market mechanisms and property rights, who knows where that might lead?"

Author's Note: The Heritage Foundation is preparing to release Issues 2006, its election-year publication to educate political candidates about conservative ideas. I’ll tell you about it in future weeks. Stay tuned!